Student performance in Finland at international top level (12th Dec 2012)https://ktl.jyu.fi/vanhat/en/pressreleases/press-releases-2004/student-performance-in-finland-at-international-top-level-12th-dec-2012https://ktl.jyu.fi/@@site-logo/logo.png

Student performance in Finland at international top level (12th Dec 2012)

Joy of learning is lost

The basis for the Finnish youth’s success in international assessment studies is already founded inprimary school. The fourth graders, who were the target for the international comparison for the firsttime in 25 years, were highly successful in reading literacy, mathematics and science. The successcontinued at the eighth grade. However, the joy of learning is already lost in the fourth grade.

These are the main results of two international assessment studies TIMSS and PIRLS. TIMSS measurestrends in mathematics and science achievement at the fourth and eighth grades, and PIRLS measurestrends in reading literacy achievement at the fourth grade.

– The results tell us how well the curricular contents are learnt, that is how successful the Finnish schoolsystem has been. By contrast, the earlier PISA studies measuring these same three areas of learningassess how well the students can apply their knowledge to real-life situations, Professor Pekka Kuparifrom the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä clarifies.

FINLAND VERY CLOSE TO THE TOP IN READING LITERACY AND SCIENCE

The reading literacy score of the Finnish fourth graders (568) is the second best among 45 countriestogether with Russia. Only Hongkong ranked better (571). Singapore came fourth. The differencesbetween these countries are so small that in practice, the reading literacy skills in these four countriesare the same.

In science, the Finnish fourth graders (570 points) ranked third among 50 countries after Korea (587)

and Singapore (583). Also the Finnish eighth graders did excellent in science; their 552 points were enough to reach the fifth place in the comparison of 42 countries. The top consists of four Asian countries, led by Singapore (590 points).

MATHEMATICS SKILLS AMONG THE BEST IN EUROPE

The Finnish fourth graders’ score in mathematics (545) was the eighth highest among 50 countries.Among the OECD countries it was enough to reach the fifth place, and among the European countries itwas enough to rank third after Northern Ireland and the Flemish part of Belgium. The best score inmathematics was achieved by some Asian countries, such as Singapore (606), Korea (605), andHongkong (602).

The Finnish eighth graders’ score in mathematics (514) was the eighth highest among 42 countries andthe second best in Europe after Russia. Also here five Asian countries (Korea, Singapore, Taiwan,Hongkong and Japan) achieved the highest scores.

Considering the mathematics scores, however, there is some reason to worry. In Finland, TIMMS alsocompared the seventh graders’ skills to the earlier TIMSS 1999 and it was noticed that during thesetwelve years, the mathematics skills have slightly deteriorated. This has not happened in science.

BOYS’ WEAKER READING LITERACY SKILLS AND THE EFFECT OF HOME POSE CHALLENGES FOR EQUALITY

The achievement scores reveal huge differences between the highest and lowest performing countrieson all three assessment areas. In contrast, the differences within Finland are one of the smallest ininternational comparison.

The scores of individual students were not affected much by whether they lived in the countryside orthe city, or by where in Finland they lived. However, the wealth of the home correlated with the scoresin reading literacy, as well as in mathematics and science.

In Finland, the gender gap in terms of the fourth graders’ achievement in reading literacy is 21 points forthe girls, which is one of the largest among the participant countries. However, in mathematics andscience the Finnish gender differences were rather small at both grades when compared internationally.

– From the viewpoint of equal learning, the biggest challenge of the Finnish primary and secondaryeducation is related to the boys’ reading literacy skills. Also the differences caused by the effect of one’shome have to be minimised, University Lecturer Sari Sulkunen summarises.

JOY OF LEARNING IS LOST

Although the skills and knowledge of the Finnish students are of a high international standard, theschools have not been very successful when it comes to the students’ attitudes and learning motivation.The Finnish fourth graders’ reading motivation and commitment to the learning of reading are one ofthe lowest among the participant countries. Only one third of the students like mathematics and onlyone fifth have a good commitment to learning. The attitudes towards reading literacy and mathematicsare among the poorest in the entire study. The situation is relatively similar regarding science.

The joy of learning is even weaker when taking a look at the eighth graders. Only 10% of the studentslike mathematics, 15% value mathematics a lot and merely 6% are committed to learning it. This meansthat in country comparisons Finland is among the three with the weakest motivated students. Over ahalf of the students do not like chemistry and physics. The situation is slightly better with biology andgeography. Finnish results are also relatively weak for students’ general appreciation for science andtheir commitment to learning it.

– The ways of teaching in primary and secondary school need urgent reshaping. The results clearlyindicate that the aims of the National Core Curriculum for Basic Education, which emphasise thestudents’ own interests and needs in teaching, have not been achieved, University Researcher JouniVettenranta and Professor Pekka Kupari note.

TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PIRLS (Progress in InternationalReading Literacy Study) are organised by IEA, which reports on the international student achievements.The Finnish Institute for Educational Research has answered for conducting the studies in Finland. Theresearch is funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.